A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jaisalmer vs. Koh Lipe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jaisalmer or Koh Lipe?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Jaisalmer or Koh Lipe? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Jaisalmer or Koh Lipe?

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Lipe or Jaisalmer?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Koh Lipe is $85. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Jaisalmer and Koh Lipe in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jaisalmer $13
    Koh Lipe $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jaisalmer $26
    Koh Lipe $88
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Koh Lipe

Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer or Koh Lipe? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Jaisalmer


Hotels in Koh Lipe


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Koh Lipe $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer

Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • From Bikaner : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $60
  • From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
  • From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Sam / Khuri Sand Dunes: $18
  • From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $43
  • Jaipur to Jaisalmer Transfer: $170
  • Jaisalmer To Bikaner Private One Way Transfer: $64
  • One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $44
  • One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $12
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Hotel To Airport: $12
  • Pokhran Airport transfer: $28
  • Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:

  • Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Koh Lipe?

Prices for flights to both Koh Lipe and Jaisalmer change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Jaisalmer $13
    Koh Lipe $26
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:


  • Dinner
    $4.78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
  • Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
  • Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
  • Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
  • Peaceful Non -Touristic Sunset Camel Safari With Dinner : $35
  • Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
  • Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
  • Sun Set Safari with Dinner: $45
  • 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
  • Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
  • DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
  • DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jaisalmer $12
    Koh Lipe $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Sam Sand Dunes for Two
    $3.59

Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.

  • Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan: $6.14
  • Explore Jaisalmer with Professional Tour Guide: $12
  • Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Jaisalmer Walking Tour: A Stroll Through Time and Culture: $12
  • Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer- Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Golden City Photography Guided Tour to Capture City Hues: $13
  • Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Jaisalmer Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $14
  • Explore Jaisalmer in Nightlights -2 Hour Guided Walking Tour: $14

Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe

Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
  • Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
  • Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jaisalmer $9.23
    Koh Lipe $8.18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Koh Lipe, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Koh Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe than you might in Jaisalmer.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Koh Lipe Expensive?.